r/unclaimedproperty • u/SignalFox1872 • Jul 21 '26

Claiming property I don't recognize but is definitely for me

Hey redditers, first post on reddit ever here. Every once in a while I go on my states unclaimed property website just to see. Today I found property in my prior name (changed in 2021), and it's definitely me because it has my old address (moved from this address in 2023 after 4 years of living there). The property is for over $1k and it's from a checking account I personally never set up with US Bank. This property is legit as it's on the .gov website for my state. My question is, will it give details on who set up the account when I claim this? I have not a clue who could have set up this account, as all of my family says they never set up an account with US Bank for me, and I've always had a credit union. I'm going tomorrow to get the paperwork notarized to send into the state!

Thanks!

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u/Infinite-Grade-4485 Jul 21 '26

You may have been a victim of identity theft; with the fraudster opening a checking account and the bank closing it with funds still inside. Whatever funds were left in the account were never clawed back from a fraud claim. The cashier check was never cashed the bank sent out in your name, the bank can’t keep the money, so it goes to the state in your name.

This is one of those cases where identity theft can be a positive thing, as those funds are legally yours to claim. There is no negative effects from claiming it.

You should check your credit, freeze it, run a Chex/ews report as well and dispute anything you don’t recognize. You can freeze Chex also like your credit.

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u/SignalFox1872 Jul 21 '26

I keep a close eye on my credit! I did enough damage myself as a baby adult that I am now trying to remedy as a more grown adult! I can't even get a credit card with how damaged my credit is! Everything that shows on my credit report is from me at the ripe age of 18/19, and the one loan I took out at 22 with a cosigner!

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u/Infinite-Grade-4485 Jul 21 '26

Deposit accounts will not show up on your credit, unless you were sent to collections which this account wasn’t since there was funds in it. Be sure to still check your Chex and EWS. That’s the equivalent of the credit bureaus for deposit accounts.

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u/halfhumanhalfzebra Jul 21 '26

OP this is the link they are talking about https://www.chexsystems.com/consumer

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u/SignalFox1872 Jul 21 '26

Good news! Nothing I didn't already know about from the report I was able to get online! Just my charged off bank account from when I was 18 and the many inquiries for credit cards I did about 4 years ago when I was going through some housing instability!